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Black History Month,Meet the athletes and stories shaping UCLA gymnastics

Jordan Chiles breaks perfect 10 floor streak in victory over Illinois

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Jordan Chiles stands on the beam. For the first time in five weeks, the senior failed to notch perfection on any event, posting a 9.975 on floor Sunday. (Michael Gallagher/Assistant Photo editor)

Gymnastics


No. 5 UCLA197.675
Illinois195.475
Alexandra Crosnoe

By Alexandra Crosnoe

Feb. 22, 2026 4:57 p.m.

This post was updated Feb. 22 at 9:35 p.m.

No streak can last forever.

And senior Jordan Chiles’ stretch of five consecutive perfect 10s came tumbling down Sunday in Champaign after she recorded a 9.975 on floor – failing to receive a perfect mark from one of two judges.

But Chiles’ first-place all-around finish of 39.650 was still more than enough to boost No. 5 UCLA (10-2, 6-0 Big Ten) to a 197.675-195.475 victory over Illinois (4-8, 1-5).

“We’re really trying to message that we need to focus on the things that we can control,” said coach Janelle McDonald. “That’s when everybody’s able to take a breath and go through and enjoy what they’re doing and at their best – Jordan’s no different.”

The Bruins recorded a 49.500 on floor – their third-highest score this season – with a diversified lineup. Freshman Ashlee Sullivan proved her consistency once more, notching her third 9.950 of the season after sticking both tumbling passes cold.

Junior Katelyn Rosen, who has notched three consecutive marks of 9.900 or above on floor, was absent from the lineup – her first time not competing the event this season. Senior Ciena Alipio, who earned a 9.850, switched into the Bruins’ leadoff spot usually held by Rosen.

“We’re mid-season here and picking and choosing when we need to rest people and give other people opportunities,” McDonald said. “Ciena is such a consistent, confident competitor for us, so we knew she’d be a great leadoff.”

Senior Ciena Alipio prepares to connect to the high bar. Alipio earned a 9.725 that was dropped from the Bruins’ bar total Sunday. (Michael Gallagher/Assistant Photo editor)

Freshman Nola Matthews also stepped into the floor lineup for the first time since the Bruins’ inaugural meet, earning a 9.875. The Gilroy, California, local briefly lost her balance as she prepared to complete a wolf turn but still posted a score well above her previous career-high 9.700.

“She’s put in a ton of hard work,” McDonald said. “She’s been really consistent in practice and really eager to get back out there for her team.”

Freshman Tiana Sumanasekera – whose lowest score on floor this season was previously a 9.825 – took a step out of bounds following her first tumbling pass, resulting in a one-tenth deduction that brought her total to a season-low 9.650 that was dropped from the squad’s tally.

The Bruins recorded a 49.475 on beam with the help of a 9.950 from Alipio, who won the event and has yet to fall below 9.900 on the event this season. Sumanasekera came close to a stick but shuffled forward following her dismount, resulting in a 9.925. Chiles and Rosen both stuck their landings but had early wobbles, earning a pair of 9.875s.

Freshman Jordis Eichman, whose beam score was dropped from the team total, matched last week’s 9.775 mark after failing to get enough height off of her dismount and taking a step backward.

Freshman Ashlee Sullivan salutes following her bars dismount. Sullivan notched a team-high 9.875 on the event Sunday. (Zimo Li/Daily Bruin senior staff)

The Bruins – who are No. 4 in the nation on bars – recorded their second-lowest uneven bars total of the season with a 49.250.

Sullivan stuck her landing cold, delivering a team-high 9.875. But Chiles – who was yet to dip below 9.900 on the event this season – failed to hit two handstands on the low bar, resulting in a season-low 9.850 mark. Alipio also recorded a season-low after wobbling on her landing, earning a 9.725 which was dropped from the team total.

UCLA recorded a season-high 49.450 on vault, bolstered by a 9.950 from Chiles and a career-high 9.925 from Sullivan.

Chiles, who won the event, performed the Lopez vault for the first time this season – which included a half-on, layout half-off, taking a small hop backward on the landing. Sumanasekera stuck the landing on her Yurchenko full vault, earning her a third-straight career-high 9.900.

“This vault has not been as consistent the last couple years, and it was going really well in the gym, so she (Chiles) really wanted the opportunity to go out and try,” McDonald said. “She was really proud of that moment.”

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Alexandra Crosnoe | News editor
Crosnoe is the 2025-2026 News editor, Copy staff and an Arts, Enterprise, Photo, Social Media and Sports contributor. She was previously the 2024-2025 national news and higher education editor. Crosnoe is a third-year public affairs student from Dallas.
Crosnoe is the 2025-2026 News editor, Copy staff and an Arts, Enterprise, Photo, Social Media and Sports contributor. She was previously the 2024-2025 national news and higher education editor. Crosnoe is a third-year public affairs student from Dallas.
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